Hue-Scination
It is no new-found phenomenon that colour is of an interest and a mass incorporation into the art I create. Throughout the years of my creation, colour has radiated in an abundance of fluctuating ways. To understand colour, its of importance to experience colour whether it be artificial lighting or natural shades of the surrounding landscapes. To appreciate colour, you do not need to be an artistic human. Colour’s beauty is elevated by visualising varying shades or simply hearing a poetic verbal description of a hue. It’s an instinct to feel subjective to matching certain shades of colour together. One might disagree with such decisions but there is no right or wrong when deciding what colours go together and what don’t. Unless the decisions that are made are heavily in devotion to that of the colour wheel.
I could ramble on for many paragraphs exemplifying the innumerable ways in which artists have used or viewed colour throughout the many art movements but realistically I can only become an addition to the pre-existing assortment of opinions that others have made over the years regarding artwork. Whereas I could simply ramble on for many paragraphs exemplifying the innumerable ways in which I have used colour throughout my artistic career, but that would take an awful amount of time. So, let’s talk about my fascination regarding Hues.
Simplicity in creation, painting a hue is very time considerate and pleasingly rewarding to look at. Never did I think I would ever admit to finding happiness in the way shades of paint blend simultaneously well, but here I am, confessing that although I enjoy heavily pictorial art that its somewhat refreshing to find the beauty in simplicity and colour. The type of paintings that I like to call, ‘space fillers’. The artwork that would fit in any household because it’s a simple display of saturation and adds a little edge of ‘abstract chic’ to the family home.
Although described as simple and somewhat easy to create, choosing the right colour palette is crucial to create a beautiful colour field. The technique to creating these paintings is using a wet on wet method. This allows an easier way to blend the colours, but the one wrong colour can transform a painting into a muddy eyesore of failure and regret, unless of course that is your subjective ideology of colour beauty. Power to you.
The beauty of colour is the many connections we as beholders associate with the varying shades. We often link the colour yellow to happiness or the sun, red to fire and warmth, blue to sadness and wintery temperatures. The analogous descriptions are simply a response to how we understand visually. Often described initially from an emotive viewpoint. No wonder painting these hues are somewhat harmonious for myself.
Often attracted to the obnoxiously fluorescent saturation of colours, I must state that colour does not have to be vibrant to be noticed. It’s the subtle pastels or subdued orange hints that add to a painting. Only noticed if gazed at in admiration than glanced in dismissal. With any visual aid, it is most understood through the prolonged activity of staring, studying with the eyes. The very activity that allows us to learn to appreciate the importance of colour.
My hue series is a concoction of mainly oranges, blues and yellows with a slight hint of white. Yet these paintings become more personal once finished. Although the initial thought process does not relate to any conceptual means other than ‘I like the colours’ the true narrative derives from the completion of the work. The hue landscapes remind me of the under paintings of famous works or the background to a painting. It then becomes reminiscent when studying the paint-scape reminding me of landscapes I have once visited. The beauty of colour becomes apparent. The importance of abstract art becomes apparent. We as beholders create our own narrative when it comes to gazing at a ‘pictureless painting’. Colour allows us to associate personal experience with art.
The very reason I am fascinated with hues.